Half A Day In Eldorado Canyon

Go back to Colorado.

Summary

The Bastille Crack

View upriver in Eldorado Canyon from somewhere on The Bastille Crack (May 2006).

In early May of 2006, I had a chance to attend a quick conference in Denver. Shirley came along and we had about a half day free to try and get a climb in. We went to Eldo and (predictably) ended up on The Bastille Crack(4 pitch, 5.7)…as it was empty and right there by the road. Fun climbing if a bit polished in places. Very reminiscent of The Red Wall in Smith Rock in terms of rock feel and color of course.

Photos

The Bastille Crack

Shirley hiking in to The Bastille in Eldorado Canyon, formation on the left in profile. The Bastille Crack (4P, 5.7) climbs the face in profile (May 2006).

The Bastille Crack

Leading the highly polished first pitch of The Bastille Crack (5.7).

The Bastille Crack

Leading pitch 1 of Bastille Crack. The big thin flake on the right is pretty exciting when you grab hold of it (and it flexes; May 6, 2006).

The Bastille Crack

Shirley nearing the top of pitch 2 (our P1) of Bastille Crack. The lower 2 or so pitches are actually pretty nice (May 6, 2006).

The Bastille Crack

Starting up the second pitch of The Bastille Crack (May 6, 2006).

The Bastille Crack

Shirley belaying from a ledge atop pitch 1.

The Bastille Crack

View upriver in Eldorado Canyon from somewhere on The Bastille Crack (May 2006).

The Bastille Crack

Leading the last (our 3rd) pitch of Bastille Crack - blocky 5.7. The rock very closely resembles (both color and texture) the stuff found on Red Wall at Smith Rock in Oregon (May 6, 2006).

The Bastille Crack

Shirley following the third pitch of The Bastille Crack (May 2006).

The Bastille Crack

View downriver towards the mouth of Eldo Canyon (May 2006).

The Bastille Crack

Top of the third pitch I think (May 2006).

The Bastille Crack

Shirley at the top of The Bastille Crack with Redgarden Wall in the background (May 2006).

The Bastille Crack

Shirley topping out on The Bastille Crack (5.7) with the Redgarden Wall (I think) in the background (May 6, 2006).

The Bastille Crack

Climbers at the top and bottom of pitch 2 of Bastille Crack (May 6, 2006).

Go back to Colorado.